I hope everyone is having a better weekend than I do. I am trying to recover from mild stomach irritation and hoping to be able to start the week tomorrow and so far I am not feeling that good. Anyway, this post waited already for a long time now and has to be posted, so here we go... Chanel's new quint from their holiday collection has a very pretty name, Charming...

Chanel Ombres Matelassees Charming Eye Shadow Palette

I pre-ordered this one, knowing it wouldn't last long before it will sell out. Natural palette with Chanel written on it is guaranteed to fly off the shelves. They called me on a Thursday, and said that the collection was there. I could make it to the store on Friday and would like to swatch before buying but couldn't see the tester. It was hidden in a drawer since this product was already sold out! In one day? I was confused, anyway purchased my palette, which was reserved for me, and went home, so excited to try it out.

I took it out on Sunday, to take some photos, wanted to remove the inlay and there I see, it was glued to the compact? Ugh! It didn't want to come out... I almost ripped it off, leaving two ugly white marks behind.

A bad surprise: Chanel Ombres Matelassees Charming Eye Shadow Palette

First I was like, what? Then I called the counter and they were not that surprised to hear that. Apparently it was the "display" piece which I was given by mistake. Luckily a new order is expected to arrive, with that they will change my piece with a regular one. I didn't want to wait until it arrives again, so here comes the swatches and eye look. Luckily the powder part of this is the same as a regular one.

Charming has five neutrals, placed from light to deep, going from beige to plummy brown. It has mostly satins and mattes, with the exception of the middle shade, which is shimmery.

Close-up: Chanel Ombres Matelassees Charming Eye Shadow Palette

The shades can be described as follows:

Light beige with matte finish

Light brown with matte finish

Mid-toned brown with gold and bronze shimmer

Deep cool brown with satin finish

Deep aubergine with matte finish

Swatch: Chanel Ombres Matelassees Charming Eye Shadow Palette

The thing I like about this palette is high quality mattes and how nicely each shade shows up on my lids. They are not transparent nor too light which is great in my book. On the other hand it is hard to form a contrast with only one light shade. However good news is that these can be layered so if you want to make one of the shades lighter, just mix it with the lightest shade. For the below look, I aimlessly padded some shades on my lid and voila, it looks nice enough to wear it! :-) Effortless smokey eye, love it. The only shade I am not in love with is the middle one, with slight fall out. It also leans way too warm for my taste so for the below look, I padded a little bit of that one on the lid after I was finished for a little shimmer here and there. You can see whole FOTD with Joues Contraste on the cheeks and Rouge Allure Ambigue on the lips here.

In-action: Chanel Ombres Matelassees Charming Eye Shadow Palette

Final thoughts: A nice basic palette which performs very well. I can see that one being flattering on a lot of different complexions and can be worn all year around.

What I don't understand is that this is only 55 EUR in Europe and as much as $80 in US, do you know why?

21 comments

OMG Sara you got the tester??? Sorry but that's funny! I got this one on Thursday and haven't had the chance to play with it yet but I know I'm going to love it. Thank you for the heads up about the middle color. I'll make sure to apply face makeup after eye shadows. Although it is beautiful it is quite warm and it may not be the one I reach for most either. :)

It is really funny! lol. I mean I was very disappointed first because I couldn't remove the inset and got annoyed by the fact that I can't try it on. But yesterday I was at the counter and laughed with some SAs there about this. I think 4 of the shades do already justify this palette, let the middle one be used a little less.

Hi,I am ashamed to tell this but i don't own any RBR mattes :-(I know their satins and I love it. I would say these ones are close to Burberry and RBR shades, buttery and soft. I unfortunately can't comment on the lasting power since my lids are dry and everything lasts rather long on me. Hope it was helpful though.

Oh wow, I'm surprised to hear about the price difference and the fact that for once it works in our favor! So sorry to hear about your palette. I'd be really angry if I received one like that! That aside, Charming looks great on you! I hope you'll feel better overnight, too!

I bought it in October at Nordstrom. I love it! I was not able to swatch it because they had no tester and was completely sold out. But I love it the colors. They blend so easily and perfectly. I am finding myself reaching for it over and over again. I also purchased the blush Accent that works well too

Yes this one works really nicely with Accent, I love them together (posted a look on Accent post which became my instant favorite and I am wearing the same look today too). This one is a natural palette but has a different tone to it, like plummy mauvy which I really like.

I am not a huge fan of Chanel eyeshadows, but this palette looks good. Except for the middle colour. However I would believe this may be more suitable for someone who does not yet have that many eyeshadows as I see no unique colours or any potential for new combinations with this palette. Not worth the hype, in my opinion, but still may find a place as an everyday staple in a beauty stash of Chanel fans out there.

Hi Yarisse,I have many eye shadows and the look this one gives to me is very unique. It has a unique twist regarding the undertones, mauve, plum a bit of grey which gives the smokey feel. I can't put my finger on it but it is the only quad I have which gives this particular type of look to me. About the versatility I have to agree though, without the middle shade, you can have like 2 looks, light and deep/smokey. I wished the middle shade would be a glitter shade, like Tom Ford's, that would be so cool.

Even in real life it is hard to get, only after I applied it on my lids, I was like "hmm I don't think I have anything like that". It is also rather dark and have only one light shade, so this alone makes it interesting for smokey eye but as said just ignore the middle shade ;-)

WHOA you got the tester?! Thank God you tried taking it out of the case or else you would've never known! Tsk tsk, Chanel! I love that it works for you (as almost all eyeshadows do on your beautiful lids anyway), Sara. I thought you weren't going to like it (from your comment on my blog) but looking at it now on you - I would never have thought otherwise. You look stunning! And goshhhh Accent looks like it was made for you too, dear!

looks stunning on you! not sure if it is my lack of skills but the colors 4+5 looked like mud on me! have same eyes as you but darker skin tone - i did love the middle shade the best too! haha! i ended up passing, the first time i passed a special chanel LE in years! i bought TF burnished amber and will get the chantacaille diamonds trio, (looks stunning wet)really interesting as they are not glitter but have this mellow refined shimmer, it would look pretty on you!!

Actually it's only 46€ in Europe. But you have to let us have something, seeing that in so many European countries we have no Nars, no Urban Decay, no Chantecaille, no Hourglass, (I have to stop or i'll go slightly depressed)